The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-31

forest and mountain, glimpses Of the
great dome Of deepest blue through
riffs Of cloud masses glorious In
crimson and gold No picture ever
painted had such wealth of gorgeous
tints. Such contrasts OF colors so
harmoniously blended never came
from painters palette. Art never
mixed her colors with such match
less skill. nor covered canvas
with such magnificent prodigality
of .hues. As the day faded
into night the purple went out
OF the waters, the gold in the clouds
changed TO gray, darkness filed the
avenues OF the woods and clothed
the mountains with mantle OF
gloom, and then star after star came
out until, when the clouds drifting
in upper currents passed beyond the
horizon, the whole armament was
studded with sparkling Jewels. l
have seen the day go and the night
come in many lands, but never before
have / seen as perfect a summer
night. There was stiffness as u
the world and all therein we're dead,
the usual tapping sound Of water on
the beach was absent, beat tf heart
and tick of watch were all OF sound
that the ear could detect, and those
slight sounds only served to deepen
the silence. Lying on the deck and
looking up at the worlds, tho suns,
the planets that glistened and spar
killed. in the great concavity OF oeles-
tial space, and then, looking over the
side into the water, there seemed to
be no water there, but instead,
as We looked down through a
great void. we saw what appeared
another and similar galaxy OF lus:
trous worlds and suns cleaning and
scintilating 10 the lower half OF the
azure vault, and our boat seemed TO
be fleeing in space-the center OF
tho universe. IL was like dream
a phantansy, small, trivial and insig-
nifcant do we and our ambition, our
labors, and our lives seem amid such
surroundings. What thoughts come
10 us amid these scenes. MY specu-
lations as to what lay beyond our
earthly being were interrupted by
Mr.. Murray, who broke the silence
and the spell.
SKILL IN PADDING.
lie said. "Do you think il would
be possible on such a still night al
this 10 paddle boat right on to you
il you were eamped on the beach
paddle il so silently that, however
intently you might listen, you would
not know that boat or paddle was on
the lake until they came within the
circle Of your camp fires light. Well
il is possible. The savage learned tC
do il that he might. undiscovered
approach the game he hunted or am.
bush his enemy. Come with me and
| shall show you how IL is done
Years ago | learned to do 1t, aud TO-
night we shall test whether my hanC
has forgotten its cunning. A canoe
would be better. but We shall trl
what can be done with this ligh
boat. Hand me my old paddle; yes
have owned IL for long tire, AM
in days that are gone il carried M
through many miles Of lake any
river. Take q seat in the stern Will
your back toward me Shut you
eyes, 40 that your whole attention
may be concentrated on dotectiD'
the sound Of the paddle in the water
, Now keep perfectly still until tn
Goat becomes steady An,
until | get ready TO start
| | shut my eyes aud | waited.
could hear n bullirog on the shore
a quarter OF q mile away, the creak
| ing Of a rope in a block on the zach
aud the faint splash Of 4 fish lcapin
away out in the lake. No othc
sound reached my ear Alter wai'
iog probably FIVE minutes | saiI
swell, are you not ready 10 startD
Then from the bow OF the boat cam
n laugh that. filled the whole ba
with hilarious sound, and that wen
away up among the hills on the othe
shore aud came echoing back in mel
~ ha. ha.has. ! opened my eyes an
found that branches OF trees swun
over my head aud that we were with
in two feet Of the shore. Withou
sound or perceptiblo motion We ha
PASSED over the water between Oh
Yacht and the beach. II was a wor
derful exhibition Of skill.ski
born OF circumstances, condition
aud necessities requiring that th
craft and strategy Of man be pittc
against the more acute senses
bird aud beast. ,.,,,,,,.